Erin Patterson, the Australian woman convicted of murdering three relatives with death cap mushrooms, has lodged an appeal against her conviction. The 51-year-old will not challenge her life sentence with a 33-year non-parole period.
Patterson was found guilty in July after an 11-week trial in Morwell, Victoria, of killing her estranged husband’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson, with beef wellingtons laced with deadly mushrooms. She also attempted to murder Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, who survived after weeks in hospital.
Her legal team, now including barristers Richard Edney and Veronika Drago, filed the appeal just before the deadline. The application was made under new guidelines that double the usual 28-day period for lodging appeals.
During the trial, Patterson maintained her innocence, claiming she had not intended to serve the poisoned dish. In sentencing, Justice Christopher Beale highlighted the substantial premeditation, her pitiless conduct after the lunch, and the elaborate cover-up as aggravating factors.
